Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS vs Wells Station Elementary
Wells Station Elementary has a higher overall rating of 9.1/10 compared to 5.7/10. Wells Station Elementary is significantly larger with 633 students, about 6.5× the size of Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS (98). In math proficiency, Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS leads at 32.0%.
Attendance data is under correction. A public school's existing Resources & Environment score and overall rating shown here may still reflect an unverified attendance input.
Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS
Memphis, TN
98 students
Wells Station Elementary
Memphis, TN
633 students
Keep or send this comparison
Send to my realtor
Open an email to my realtorRatings Comparison
| Metric | Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS | Wells Station Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 5.7 / 10 | 9.1 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 3.3 | 7.7 |
| Growth Score | 8.2 | 9.7 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | — | — |
| Environment Score | 2.9 | 9.7 |
| State Rank | #1,159 of 1,790 | #50 of 1,790 |
| State Percentile | 35th | 97th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS | Wells Station Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 32.0% | 24.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 17.0% | 18.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
Neighborhood
| Metric | Memphis (38126) | Memphis (38108) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $30,825 | $35,435 |
| Median Home Value | $59,000 | $62,600 |
| Median Rent | $794 | $921 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 13.8% | 10.6% |
| Poverty Rate | 45.3% | 28.0% |
| Avg Commute | — | 24 min |
The data story: Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS vs Wells Station Elementary
Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS and Wells Station Elementary are both top-ranked Memphis elementary schools, separated by just 0.1 points overall — 9.4/10 versus 9.3/10. That slim gap masks a more meaningful difference in state standing: Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS ranks #11 of 1,785 Tennessee schools while Wells Station Elementary ranks #17 of 1,785, placing both in the top 1% statewide but with Ida B. Wells six positions higher in a deep field.
On academics, Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS scores 8.4/10 versus Wells Station Elementary's 8.3/10 — a one-tenth-point difference that is functionally a tie. Growth tells the same story: both schools earn identical 9.8/10 growth scores, meaning students at each school advance at an equally exceptional pace relative to comparable peers. Neither school has a material edge in how fast students learn once enrolled.
The enrollment and staffing numbers are where these schools diverge sharply. Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS serves 98 students against Wells Station Elementary's 633, and that size difference drives a stark ratio gap — 6.1 students per teacher at Ida B. Wells versus 12.7 at Wells Station. A parent placing a child in Ida B. Wells can expect roughly half the class density and considerably more individual teacher contact time. Wells Station, for its part, operates at a scale that typically supports broader extracurricular offerings and more peer interaction across grade levels.
Grade span is another structural difference to weigh. Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS covers kindergarten through eighth grade, meaning a family could keep a child in the same building from age five through middle school. Wells Station Elementary runs pre-K through fifth grade only, so families will face a school transition after fifth grade. For parents with a pre-kindergarten child, Wells Station offers the earlier entry point — Ida B. Wells does not serve pre-K.
Editorial summary generated April 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS
Ida B. Wells Academy ES/MS suits families who prioritize a small, intimate environment — the 6.1:1 student-teacher ratio means individualized attention is structural, not aspirational. It also fits parents who want to avoid a mid-elementary school transition, since the KG–08 grade span keeps a child in one building through eighth grade.
Wells Station Elementary
Wells Station Elementary fits families with a pre-kindergarten child who want to start early at a high-performing school, or parents who value a larger peer community and the social breadth that comes with 633 enrolled students. At #17 in Tennessee, it delivers near-identical academic outcomes at more than double the enrollment scale.